Winter Wonder for the Our Home

Christmas will be here a few days. This post is not just of the decorated room but how our spaces can be part of helping us celebrate Christmas.

Creating a place of beauty that confirms the unspoken assurances of belonging and peace with the Winter Wonder themed middle room this Christmas season was my aim. This middle room is already a place that Jim and I enjoy. It is pretty and feminine yet welcoming. Jim often sits there in the mornings for his quiet time.

It can also be a place we take afternoon coffee and hot tea. There are no distractions in this room.

This Christmas the middle room with the Winter Wonder decorations is a place to pray, contemplate and for momentso to savor the feeling that all is well.

place of peace

‘And the PEACE of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts, and minds in Christ Jesus.’ Philippians 4:7

Each morning, this Winter Wonder room greets me with the Christmas feeling of peace to start my day. Our empty nester home is usually fairly quiet. Having this particular space helps me start my day with a sense of satisfaction and peace all year round.

The middle room is now a beautiful sitting room. It has been a long time coming. Over the years it has had many functions. None seemed quite right. It is now.

place of belonging

Children are a heritage from the Lord,
    offspring a reward from him. Psalms 127:3

A grandchild will claim a chair with her book and start reading. She will be undisturbed even though it is walked through routinely as we move back and forth between the living room and kitchen.

Sometimes it is a place for conversations like one I had recently with one of my children until the wee hours of the night.

Each one knows they belong…always. Hopefully they will always know they are loved. I love when they come that I find our kids and grandkids through out the house sleep on a bed or lounging on chairs and couches. If I can’t find on of the grandchildren, it’s a safe bet they are upstairs in the hall gallery reading or playing marbles.

The Winter Wonder room is a place of belonging that is restful.

place of beauty

‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’ Luke 2:14

The library table is a card table from Aunt Daisy who really did have it in her library. It is so easy to pull the wingback chairs and side chairs around it as the cards are dealt. When two of our grandchildren come, one of them is often drawn to sit at the library table and spread out a game to to play solo without any interruptions. Children need beautiful spaces and solitude too.

The glass front book case is another piece from Jim’s family. The miniature houses are favorite for the grandchildren to take out to hold and examine closely. I used to be very particular about taking them out for the grandchildren which I recently regonized as ridiculous. It’s the same principle of using fine china, sliver and crystal. Little ones will learn to appreciate fine things and how to handle them when they can handle and use those things. The small chips are actually from frequent moves over the years.

It’s a place of beauty.

place of comfort and joy

When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. Matthew 2:10

The blue flower Havilland china that is so delicate and feminine yet sturdy. Often I will brew a cup of hot tea to sip while I read for a spell.

The Winter Wonder decoration encourages me to be thankful for the Christmas season that brings ‘Comfort and Joy!’

place of family history

 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. Luke 1:32

In the morning, the sun isn’t shining yet but there is warmth in the lights from the decorations. The mercury glass shines with reflective light. The FB market velvet wing back chairs fulfill a dream I have had since childhood to have a room that represents historical periods of style. The addition of the rug from the attic was the finishing touch. The tall bookcases are made from reclaimed wood. The center Chinese buffet will go to Amy or Meg one day. The short China antique storage piece under the table hides medicines and stored mailers. The china cabinet is an old built-in. The glass front bookcase is from Jim’s family. It’s a hodge podge that works. Family history is on display.

place of hope

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Best of all, this Winter Wonder theme truly reflects the wonder in Christmas reagardless of the weather. Creating our home to be a gift to our family and visitors is a labor of love.

Merry Christmas to You All!